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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Preface

Prĕf'ace, n.

noun

n. [Fr. préface, Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione, Lat. præfatio, from præfari, to speak or say beforehand, from præ, before, and fari, fatus, to speak.] Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.

This superficial tale is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak.

Synonyms—Introduction; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.

Prē'face, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. PREFACED (prēf'est); p. pr. & vb. n. PREFACING.]

  1. To introduce by preliminary remarks; as, to preface a book or discourse.
  2. To face; to cover; — used humorously. “Not prefacing old rags with plush.” Cleveland.

Prĕf'ace, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To say something introductory; to make a preface.